Phillip Island is an Australian island which is located roughly 140 kilometers away from the South Southeast of Melbourne Victoria. It is named after the first Governor of New South Wales ‘Arthur Phillip’ and it provides a natural breakwater for the shallow waters around Western Port. The island is 26 kilometers long and 9 kilometers wide and it has an area of roughly 100km2 filled with great things to do and see. In particular it has a highly impressive coastline which is a long 97km.

Phillip Island is also one of the best locations in Australia to go for your holiday and it’s a fantastic place to stay if you love wildlife, scenery and relaxation. If you aren’t convinced then let the figures do the talking. As a relatively small island the population is low throughout the year at 7,000 roughly. However come summer this number increases to a whopping 40,000 – a 60% increase which is of course a result of the tourism.

So what is it that is drawing everyone to the island and what things are there to do here? Here we will have a look at some of what it has to offer.

Penguin Parade: Many people have never seen a penguin before except for on wildlife programmes, which is partly why the penguin parade is such a popular attraction. This parade takes place at Phillip Island Nature Park and features groups of little penguins (a species, not a description of size) come ashore in groups. This would be cute and entertaining enough, but it’s even more impressive because the species of little penguin can be seen in few other locations.

Phillip Island Nature Park: Of course the penguins aren’t the only attraction at the park and there’s much more to do and see here too. Many people are amazed for instance by the fact that they can walk among kangaroos and get right up close to them – again something that is a first for many.

Surfing: The island is well known for its highly consistently reliable surf conditions. If you are a fan of surging then there is plenty of surf here for you and it’s a highly scenic and warm place to come and try your hand at it as well.

Beaches: With 97km of coastline it’s no surprise that the beaches are a big attraction of Phillip Island. If you like your holidays to feature sun and sand then you’re in the right place, and at the same time you can admire some of the spectacular rock formations along the way.

Festivals: if you enjoy music then there are a few festivals here to enjoy from the Pyramid Rock Festival to the Pioneer Festival. There are many surfing festivals here too.

Towns: There are lots of towns in and around Phillip Island that all offer great shopping, night life and dinner. Just a few places to check out include Beachcomber, Cowes, Cape Woolami, Rhyll and Summerlands.

Motorsports: If you like motorsports then you’re in the right place – and this is a great place to come and see the Australian motorcycle Grand Prix.

Phillip Island is an Australian island that is located South East of Melbourne. It is named after the old Governor of New South Wales ‘Arthur Phillip’ and is a natural breakwater for shallow waters from the Western Port.

It is also one of the best places to visit in Australia if you enjoy natural beauty, and particularly if you have a keenness for wildlife. Phillip Island provides many holiday parks to cater for the busy tourist seasons when the populations swells from 7,000 to 40,000. There are plenty of things that bring people to Philip Island and tonnes of reasons to relax in one of these parks which are ideal for the kind of relaxing holidays that many of us look forward to all year round.
Wildlife, Scenery and Weather

One of the main reasons that many people are drawn to Phillip Island is to witness the vaunted ‘Penguin Parade’. This is an event that takes place at the Phillip Island Nature Park, which is one of the only places to see the Little Penguins. This is a particular species of penguin which come ashore in groups and make for some fantastic photo opportunities.

If you’re a fan of wildlife though, there is more to see than just the Little Penguins. For instance you will also find wallabies and kangaroos at the part, and this is one of the only places where they roam freely among you allowing you to get right up close to them. Or you can visit the Seal Rocks which are situated at the Western side of the island and which are home to a huge colony of fur seals. As well there this island is considered an ‘important bird area’, due to the number of rare birds.

On top of the great wildlife for you to experience, many people enjoy the climate as a highlight of Phillip Island. Though it is cooler than Melbourne and tempered by ocean breezes, it is still a great place to catch some rays and to enjoy warm weather. There’s also tonnes of great scenery – in particular the long beaches, as well as some of the caves and natural rock formations.
Other Attractions

The island is also brimming with nightlife and amenities and this is a great place to come for food, drink and entertainment. It also has lots of other draws for specific groups too – for rock fans for instance there is the Pyramid Rock Festival held on New Year’s Eve; while for motorsports fans there is a lot to see and do here – not only was Philip Island the original home of the Australian Grand Prix, but today you can also see the Australian motorcycle Grand Prix.

And for surfers Phillip Island won’t disappoint either and is able to offer great beaches for enjoying the pass time. On top of that are the surfing events such as the Rip Curl Pro event which was held there in 2005 and the Roxy Pro Women’s Surfing Festival.

In short there is plenty to do on Phillip Island and a great deal to see. It’s certainly work checking out for your next summer holiday.